Wondering what to do with the leftover mashed potatoes? This mashed potato waffles recipe is easy and incredibly delicious…and the best part? It uses ingredients you already have!
This recipe has been updated from the original posted November 27, 2019.
What to do with the leftover mashed potatoes? Make waffles, of course! I hate to waste food. I’m the queen of repurpose. I don’t mind calling food what it is—leftovers—-but some people have an aversion to leftovers—so it’s best to invent a totally new dish with what you’ve got on hand. Mashed Potato Waffles it is then!
To be honest, I have made these many times when it wasn’t the day after Thanksgiving, and I didn’t have any leftover mashed potatoes. I use this recipe for vegan mashed potatoes as a guide and basically boil up some potatoes, cauliflower, and parsnips with some garlic and then mash when I need some. Works like a charm in this recipe for the savory waffles.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Egg (or vegan replacement): You need to use something to bind the batter together. In addition to regular eggs, you can make a flax egg or a chia egg and let that sit until it has “gelled”. Make sure to use ground flax or ground chia seeds. Sprinkle a bit more in your batter if it’s too loose.
- Fresh herbs: Use what you HAVE…if it’s Thanksgiving weekend and you have extra sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley….go for it! Cilantro is perfect if you’re setting up a mexican themed toppings bar.
- Onions: I used green onions, but you could also use leeks, yellow onions, red onion or sweet onions for a boost in flavor.
- Beans or Lentils: Sure. Add them to the “batter” or sprinkle them on top for a protein boost.
- Grains: What else would you like to repurpose?
- Stuffing: YES!!! This recipe is the perfect vehicle to repurpose stuffing as well. Never heard of leftover stuffing waffles? Oh, they’re totally a thing! I use my leftover gluten-free cornbread stuffing, add an egg, some spices and they are DEE-lish.
- Veggies: What’s in your fridge? Chop it up! Cooked or raw will work. Broccoli, red peppers, green beans, mushrooms, brussels sprouts, cabbage, the sky’s the limit!
How to make savory waffles
First, determine how many waffles you need to make and gather your ingredients. for every one cup of mashed potatoes (or mashed cauliflower or mashed parsnips….even mashed acorn squash…use what you have leftover!), use one egg (and YES, VEGAN flax egg totally works!!!)
Super important next step. Make sure to preheat your waffle iron. If you’ve used a vegan egg replacement, this is a good chance for it to sit and gel.
Gather one cup leftover mashed potatoes with 1 egg, chopped herbs, salt and crushed red pepper and sliced green onions.
Mix together with a fork until everything is uniformly incorporated. This is your waffle batter.
Follow the directions for YOUR waffle iron. If it says to grease, then do it! If it says to spray with oil before you preheat, do it! With a non-stick waffle iron, you can make oil-free waffles.
Give the potato waffle batter a good stir again before loading into the waffle iron.
I like to use a cookie scoop to portion out the waffles, but you can use a measuring cup or any spoon to scoop the batter into the waffle maker. You’ll use about ½ cup waffle batter per waffle.
Once you’ve set the “doneness” on your waffle iron, then leave them to cook until you hear the beep. If you open your waffle iron too soon, the batter will likely stick to each side and crack open down the center.
If this is your first time making leftover savory waffles, then try to stick to the recipe. Next time, you can add all kinds of fun things to the batter. I often include chopped fresh veggies like bell peppers or something else colorful.
Waffles will be golden brown when done and the lid should open easily. You may need to use a fork to gently peel the waffle off the top grate, but that should be EASY to do.
I’m all about the flavor and the texture. I like to add stuff both inside and outside my savory waffles. Tell me in the comments what you’re going to embellish your mashed potato waffles with!
Debra’s Pro Tips
- Preheat the waffle iron.
- Set up a DIY toppings bar and let everyone make their own!
- It’s quick and easy to make this savory waffle batter, so make several. Use your leftover stuffing in one, leftover cauliflower mash in another, and an assortment if that’s what you have on hand.
- Simple works too. A slice of avocado and a squirt of sriracha is my favorite topping for savory waffles that include black beans.
- Cranberry chia jam tastes delish on top of a Thanksgiving themed leftovers waffle.
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📖 Recipe
Mashed Potato Waffles
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup mashed potatoes*
- 1 egg
- 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
- 3 scallions thinly sliced
- ½ teaspoon coarse sea salt
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Preheat waffle iron.
- In a large bowl, using a fork, mix together all ingredients.
- Generously scoop batter into waffle iron. How much will depend on the style/size of YOUR waffle Iron. I used about ½ cup batter for each waffle in MY waffle iron.
- WAIT FOR THE BEEP.
- Be generous with the toppings….and enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Note
The nutrition calculations were done using online tools. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients you used. You are ultimately responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information is accurate, complete and useful.
Aline
I was searching for what to do with lefotver mashed potatoes and landed here. Made this recipe this morning and it was suuuuuuuuch a treat!!! We loved it! Thank you!
Debra Klein
You’re welcome. Love to use my waffle maker in unexpected ways!
Bernice Hill
How delicious! I have a buttermilk mashed potatoes recipe that would be so amazing as waffles..Imagine these waffles under fried chicken WOW! Such a great dish!
Debra Klein
Ooh…sounds so decadent!
Debbie
What a great way to use leftover mashed potatoes. I have never thought of making savory waffles . I am saving this , I know it will come in handy with holiday leftovers.
Debra Klein
Exactly how I first discovered how good it was…how come I always end up with too much mashed potatoes?
Paige
Ooooh…now this is my kind of side dish! It looks fabulous and I’ll be trying this with the leftovers from Thanksgiving!!
Patti@PattyCakesPantry
This has got to be the most creative way to use up leftover mashed potatoes that I have ever seen. I love potato cakes, and cottage pies, but this looks absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to try this!
Debra Klein
Our favorite post thanksgiving breakfast! So easy and delicious.
Beth
I have been trying to convince myself that I could make use of a waffle maker – when I don’t like all that sweet syrup – and this recipe has done it. What a brilliant idea to turn leftover mashed potatoes into savory waffles!
Debra Klein
Oh….there are so many things you can use the waffle maker for that aren’t sweet (hello hash browns!).
Marianne
What can you top them with or are they delicious with nothing on them?
Debra Klein
I think they are delicious as is…but I’m also a toppings girl. I prefer savory toppings like avocado slices, scallions, edamame beans, fresh herbs and a squirt of sriracha. Fresh salsa is also delish. Use your favorites!
Anne
How do these waffles not stick to the iron? Haven’t tried it yet but I forsee a scraping session, with no oil at all. I assume the idea is to oil/butter the waffle maker as usual?
Debra Klein
You know YOUR waffle maker best. I didn’t need to add any oil to mine and the waffles didn’t stick…but there was some olive oil in the mashed potatoes I used, so maybe that’s why they came out so easily. I would do what you usually do for a good result.